Tubular carrier and blank for making same



Aug. 19 1969 M. T- FARQUHAR 3 6 TUBULAR CARRIER AND BLANK FOR MAKINGSAME Filed Jan. 18. 1968 ZSheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MELVILL E. T.FARQUHAR BY 0M 1 9%,

I H IS ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /E mmm E N M. T. FARQUHAR I TUBULARCARRIER AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAME A, @Q K mwwowvw v wl Aug. 19, FiledJan. 18, 1968 INVENTOR. MELVILLE T. FARQUHAR BY a @M sf HIS ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,462,011 TUBULAR CARRIER AND BLANK FOR MAKING SAMEMelville T. Farquhar, Bon Air, Va., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company,Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 18, 1968, Ser. No.698,892 Int. Cl. B65d 85/62, 21/02, 61/00 US. Cl. 206-65 11 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a tubular, carrierfor a plurality of bottles, or the like, having a substantially L-shapedretaining flange adjacent each top corner of such carrier wherein eachL-shaped flange retains its configuration and holds an adjoiningcontainer within the carrier under substantially all handling conditionsincluding the forceful urging thereagainst of an adjoining containerduring carrying of the carrier as well as upon grasping and pulling of aterminal end portion of the carrier top wall to move such carrier.

Background of the invention The construction of presently used tubularcarriers for bottles, or the like, is such that structural portions ofeach carrier which hold corner bottles in position are easily moved outof holding position during normal handling thereof whereby the bottlesare generally free to move out of their associated present carrier andoften dropped and broken causing substantial product losses as well ascreating safety problems.

Summary This invention provides an improved tubular carrier forbottle-like containers and an improved blank for making same whereinsuch carrier is constructed to assure that its bottle-like containersare held in position even under adverse handling conditions.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent as the following description of the embodiment thereofpresented in the accompanying drawing proceeds.

Brief description of the drawings The accompanying drawings show apresent preferred embodiment of this invention, in which- FIGURE 1 is aperspective view illustrating one exemplary embodiment of the improvedcarrier of this invention particularly highlighting that an end portionof the top wall of such carrier may be grasped and pulled to positionsuch carrier and its containers during handling thereof, for example;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructionand arrangement of an L-sh-aped retaining flange provided in one cornerof the carrier of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank used to make the carrier of FIGURE1; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view particularly illustrating aportion of the blank of FIGURE 4 which defines an associated L-shapedretaining flange upon assembly of such blank to define the carrier ofFIGURE 1.

Description of illustrated embodiment Reference is now made to FIGURE 1of the drawings wherein an exemplary carrier of this inventiondesignated generally by the reference numeral 20 is illustrated. Theexemplary carrier 20 is used for storing and carrying a "ice pluralityof six containers shown in the form of bottles and each designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 21. Each bottle 21 has asubstantially cylindrical bottom portion 22, an upwardly tapering neck23, and a crowntype closure cap 24 suitably fastened in position overthe top portion of the neck 23 in a known manner. The carrier 20 has aplurality of substantially L-shaped retaining flanges each designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 26 and each flange 26 is provided ata top corner of the carrier 20 to hold an associated corner bottle 21 inposition and prevent such corner bottle and the adjacent bottles fromfalling out of the carrier 20 even under adverse handling conditions andin a manner as will be described in detail subsequently in thisspecification.

Carrier 20 has a top wall 30 and a pair of substantially verticallyarranged side walls each designated generally by the same referencenumeral 31 fastened to opposite side edges of the top wall 30 andextending downwardly therefrom. Carrier 20 has a bottom wall 33 fastenedto the bottom edges of the side walls 31 and the walls 30, 3-1, and 33are constructed and arranged to define a substantially tubularconfiguration for the carrier 20.

The vertical side walls 31 are substantially identical and, if desired,either one or both side walls may be provided with suitable tear stripsto facilitate the opening of the carrier 20. In this example of theinvention, a pair of substantially rectangular tear strips 35 and 36 areshown in dotted lines as being provided in the right side wall 31, asviewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The tear strips 35 and 36 aredefined by cooperating sets of aligned slits provided in theirassociated side wall 3-1 and in a known manner.

Each side wall 31 has a vertically arranged central portion 40 which ispositioned against the vertical outer surface of the cylindrical portion22 of associated bottles 21. Each side wall 31 also has an upwardly andinwardly inclined top portion 41 which corresponds generally to theinclination of the neck 23 of bottles 21 and an inclined bottom portion42 which is, in effect, wrapped around the heel 43 of each bottle 21carried within the tubular carrier 20.

The exemplary carrier 20 has three openings each designated generally bythe reference numeral 44 provided in each inclined strip 42 of each sidewall 31 Each opening 44 is adapted to receive a portion of a heel 43 ofan associated bottle 21 therewithin and hold such heel firmly inposition. In addition, each opening 44 has an associated skirt portion44A which provides some protection for an associated heel 43 of anadjoining bottle 21.

The carrier 20 also has a pair of openings each designated generally bythe reference numeral 45 provided adjacent opposite top corners of eachinclined portion 41 of each side wall 31. Another opening 46 is alsoprovided at the top end of each inclined portion 41 and alignedsubstantially centrally between the openings 45. Each opening 45 and 46is adapted to receive a part of an associated crown-type closure cap 24therethrough in the manner illustrated in the drawings.

The manner in which the openings 44, 45, and 46 are defined in each sidewall 31 of carrier 20 will be described in more detail later in thisspecification in connection with the blank used to make the carrier 20and which is shown in plan view in FIGURE 4 of the drawmgs.

The top wall 30 of carrier 20 extends in a horizontal plane and has apair of substantially D-shaped fingerreceiving openings provided thereinand each designated by the same reference numeral 48. A pair of fingersof one hand, for example, may be easily inserted through the openings 48and enable easy grasping and carrying of the carrier 20.

As seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings each end portion of top wall 30 maybe easily grasped to move the carrier 20 by sliding or lifting duringroutine handling thereof such as the stacking of a plurality of carriers20 for storage or display, for example. The retaining flanges 26provided in carrier 20 will remain in position even if the carrier 20 isgrasped and moved as shown and described and assure that the bottles 21will be held securely within the carrier and not tend to fall out if thecarrier 20 is subsequently picked up in the conventional manner usingits openings 48 and tilted with either of its open ends inclinedsubstantially downwardly.

As will be apparent particularly from FIGURES 2 and of the drawings, thecarrier has a plurality of corner cuts each being arranged adjacent anassociated top corner of the carrier 20 and designated generally by thereference numeral 50. Each corner cut 50 has a first cut portion 51provided in the top wall 30 and a second cut portion 52 provided in anassociated side wall 31.

The carrier 20 has a plurality of sets of fold lines and each set offold lines cooperates with an associated cut '50 to define a highstrength and substantially L-shaped retaining flange at each top cornerof the carrier 20. Each set of fold lines is comprised of a first foldline 54 which is provided in the top wall 30 and extends outwardly fromthe terminal end of an associated first cut portion 51 to the near endof the top wall 30, a second fold line 55 provided in an associated sidewall 31 and which extends outwardly from the terminal end of anassociated second cut portion 52 to the near end of its associated sidewall 31, and a third fold line 56 extending from the point of junctionindicated at 60 of the cut portions 51 and 52 outwardly to the near endof the carrier 20.

As will be apparent particularly from FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings,each third fold line 56 defines the bight of an associated previouslymentioned L-shaped retaining flange 26. Further, it will be seen thateach L- shaped retaining flange has a first leg portion or leg 61extending between the fold lines 54 and 56 and the leg 61 extendstransverse to and is supported at one end by the top wall 30. EachL-shaped retaining flange 26 also has a second leg portion or leg 62defined between fold lines 55 and 56 and the leg 62 extends transverseto and has one end portion supported by a associated side wall 31.

The fold lines 54 and 55 provided in blank 75 and hence carrier 20 maybe defined by suitably scoring the blank 75 on one surface and in aconventional manner. However, it will be appreciated that if the foldline 56 were to be formed by similar scoring, the portions of blankmaterial adjoining opposite sides of the fold line 56 would have to befolded in a reverse manner and the resulting L-shaped flange 26 wouldprobably not retain its configuration. To overcome this potentialproblem the score line 56 may be defined in the form of a cut-score linecomprised of a plurality of spaced apart slits 56A arranged in alignedend-to-end relation with a scored portion 56B aligned between each pairof immediately adjacent slits. The cut-score line 56 thus enables easyfolding of the legs 61 and 62 of flange 26 thereabout in a reversedirection from the direction in which the legs 61 and 62 are each foldedabout their respective fold lines 54 and 55.

As previously mentioned, each of the containers 21 is in the form of abottle 21 having a neck 23 and a crowntype closure cap 24 suitablyfastened in position at the top of the neck 23. Each cap 24 has a skirtportion 64 provided with a lower edge 65 which defines an annularprojection extending outwardly from an associated neck 23.

Upon placing the bottles 21 in position with the tubular carrier 20, itwill be seen that the leg 62 of each L-shaped retaining flange 26extends beneath an annular projection defined by the lower edge 65 of anassociated cap 24 and helps maintain the configuration of the L- shapedflange 26 by preventing upward movement of leg 62. Further, the innededge of each leg 62 also engages an associated bottle 21 and helps holdsuch bottle in position against any tendency of the bottle to moveoutwardly from within the carrier 20, even under conditions where thecarrier 20 is grasped by inserting fingers through the finger-receivingopenings 48 and tilted with an open end thereof facing substantiallydownward- 1y.

As seen particularly in FIGURES 2 and 5 of the drawings, each cut 50 hasthe end of its out portion 52 which adjoins point 60 offset inwardlyfrom the near end of its associated side wall 31 as indicated at 67 andthe remainder of the cut portion 52 is arranged so that it extendssubstantially parallel to the end edge of its associated side wall 31.This configuration assures that the inner edge of the leg 62 extendsbeneath the skirt 64 of an associated cap 24 and against an associatedbottle neck 23 as mentioned above.

Thus, it is seen that each cut 50 provided adjacent each corner of thecarrier 20 defines one edge of an associated corner opening 45 providedin the carrier 20 and each opening 45 is adapted to receive a part ofthe upper end portion of an associated container therethrough. In thisexample of the invention each opening 45 is adapted to receive a part ofa closure cap 24 as previously explained.

Carrier 20 can be formed in any suitable manner and made from anysuitable foldable material. It is preferably formed from the blank 75illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The blank 75 is made ofpaperboard, or the like, and may have a surface such as the exposedsurface thereof laminated with metallic foil, such as aluminumcontaining metallic foil, or the like, suitably colored, embossed,imprinted, or remaining plain, as desired.

The detailed description of the blank 75 will now proceed by describingprimarily those structural portions which were not previously describedin detail in connection with the description of the carrier 20. However,where a previous detailed description was made in connection with thecarrier 20, such description will not be repeated in connection with theblank and corresponding component portions of blank 75 will bedesignated by the same reference numerals as in the carrier 20.

The blank 75 is of rectagular peripheral outline and is suitably cut andscored and adapted to be assembled to define the resulting improvedcarrier 20 of this invention and comprises a plurality of parallelspaced-apart score lines including a score line 76, a pair ofsubstantially centrally arranged score lines each designated by thereference numeral 77, and a score line 79 which define the top wall 30between the central score lines 77, one side wall 31 between score line76 and one score line 77, and the other side wall 31 between score line79 and the other score line 77. As will be apparent from FIGURE 4, eachscore line 76', 77 and 79 is comprised of a plurality of spaced apartsections aligned in a rectilinear manner.

The blank 75 also has a pair of rectangular flaps 82 and 83 which extendoutwardly of score lines 76 and 79 respectively and are adapted to befolded into a common plane and suitably fastened together to define thebottom wall 33 of carrier 20. The [flap 83 also has a rectangularextension 84 which extends from its terminal outer edge and is adaptedto be inserted in position as a protective separator between a pair ofparallel rows of bottles 21 upon forming the carrier 20 from the blank75 and in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

The extension flap 82 has a plurality of two centrally arranged andcomparatively large identical locking tabs formed therein and eachlocking tab is designated by the reference numeral and is defined by asubstantially arrowhead-shaped or wedge-shaped cut 91. In addition,

a pair of smaller identical locking tabs 92 are provided adjacent theopposite ends of the extension flap 82 and each locking tab 92 isdefined by a wedge-shaped cut 93 which is similar to the wedge-shapedcut 91 and of smaller size.

The extension flap 83 has a pair of centrally arranged sets ofcooperating cut and score lines provided therein and arranged in theform of a substantially wedge-shaped configuration and each set isdesignated generally by the reference numeral 94. Each set 94 is definedby a substantially U-shaped cut 95 which has a V-shaped score line 96arranged with the terminal ends of its diverging legs adjoining theterminal ends of the diverging legs of the U-shaped cut.

The substantially wedge-shaped area bounded by the U-shaped cut 95 andthe V-shaped score line 96 is bisected by a rectilinear cut 100 whichextends perpendicular to the base of the U-shaped cut 95 so as to definea pair of foldable flaps 101 and 102 which are each hinged about one ofthe diverging legs of the V-shaped cut 96. Each set 94 of cut and scorelines also has a peripheral outline which corresponds to the outline ofa locking tab 90.

The extension flap 83 also has a set of cooperating cut and score linesprovided therein adjacent each end thereof and each set is designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 104. Each set 104 is comprised of aU-shaped cut 105, a V-shaped score line 106, and a rectilinear cut 107arranged in a similar manner as described in detail in connection withcorresponding parts of each set 94 so as to define a pair of foldableflaps 108 and 109 in this latter instance. Each set 104 of cut and scorelines also has a peripheral outline which corresponds to the outline ofits associated locking tab 92.

The blank 75 is easily assembled in a known manner to form the carrier20 by inserting the wedge-shaped locking tabs 90 and 92 through anassociated set 94 and 104 respectively of cooperating cut and scoremeans to thereby lock the terminal ends of the blank 75 together. Thefastening action may be achieved utilizing automatic equipment whichemploys push rods which engage the locking tabs 90 and 92 and push themin locking posi-- tion after the separator 84 is folded in positionbetween the two rows of bottles 21 and then the outer extension flap 82is folded against its row of bottles 21 and against the extension flap83.

As mentioned previously in connection with the description of thecarrier 20, a pair of finger-receiving openings 48 are provided in thetop wall 30. Each finger-receiving opening 48 is defined by a C-shapedcut 110 which has a score line 111 extending between the terminal endsof the cut 110 so as to define a foldable flap 112 which is foldedinwardly to define an associated opening 48.

Each side wall 31 also has an inclined upper portion 41 as previouslymentioned. The upper portion 41 in one side wall 31 extends between onescore line 77 and a continuous score line 116 provided in such sidewall. The upper portion 41 in the other side wall 31 extends between theother score line 77 and a score line shown at 117 which may have thelower edge portions of the optional tear strips 35 and 36, shown indotted lines, coinciding therewith.

The blank'75 also has a pair of strips 42 defined therein and in theassembled carrier 20 each strip 42 is inclined inwardly toward andadjoins the bottom wall 33. The strip 42 in one side wall 31 is definedbetween score line 76 and an adjacent score line 118. Similarly, thestrip 42 in the other side wall 31 is defined between score line 79 andan adjacent score line 119.

Three sets of cooperating cuts and cutouts each designated generally bythe reference numeral 120 are provided substantially within the confinesof each strip 42 and each set 120 defines the previously mentionedopening 44 and associated skirt 44A for receiving the heel 43 of anassociated bottle 21 therewithin. The particular shape and arrangementof the cuts and cutout comprising each set may be varied to suit theparticular application and configuration of the containers carriedwithin carrier 20 and thus will not be described in detail.

A plurality of cuts is also provided in each side wall 31 whichcooperate with each elongated cut 50 and help define each opening 45. Inparticular, it will be seen that a substantially L-shaped cut isprovided in side wall 31 in association with each opening 45 and has theterminal end of one leg 126 adjoining the terminal end of cut portion 52and the terminal end of another leg 127 coinciding substantially with anassociated score line 77 defining the top edge of an associated sidewall 31.

A slit 130 is also provided in association with each opening 45 andextends perpendicular to and downwardly from the center of the legportion 126. The slit 130 cooperates with a pair of slits 131 which arearranged in a V-shaped pattern on opposite sides of slit 130 and divergetoward the leg 126 of L-shaped cut 125. The slits 130 and 131 cooperatewith leg portion 126 to define an expandable skirt for receiving theupper end portion of a bottle 21 thereagainst. In this example of theinvention the skirt thus defined receives an annular bead 23A providedon bottle neck 23.

The centrally arranged opening 46 provided in each side wall 31 isdefined by a substantially U-shaped cut 134 having a pair of parallellegs 135 and a transverse leg 136. The terminal ends of the legs 135 arearranged to coincide with an associated score line 77 and the transverseleg 136 is arranged substantially parallel therewith. Upon folding theassociated side wall 31 in position beneath top wall 30 in formingcarrier 20 it will be seen that the substantially rectangular area 137defined by the U-shaped cut remains coplanar with top Wall 30 and theopening 46 is formed therebeneath.

A slit 140 is also provided in association with each opening 46 andextends perpendicular to and downwardly from the center of leg 136defining the lower edge of opening 46. The slit 140 cooperates with apair of slits 141 which are arranged in a V-shaped pattern and extendtoward leg 136 on opposite sides of slit 140 to define an expandableskirt for receiving the upper end portion of a central bottle 21.

What'is claimed is:

1. In combination: a plurality of containers and a tubular carrier forstoring and carrying said containers, said carrier having, a top wall, apair of side walls fastened to opposite side edges of said top wall, abottom wall fastened between the bottom edges of said side walls, aplurality of corner cuts in said carrier each being arranged adjacent anassociated top corner and each having a first cut portion provided insaid top wall and the second cut portion in an associated side wall,each second cut portion of each out having an oifset portion which isoffset in wardly from said near end of its associated side wall and theremainder of each second cut portion is arranged substantially parallelto said near end of said side wall so that the inner end edge of saidsecond leg portion extends beneath an annular projection provided in anassociated one of said containers to hold said associated one containermore securely within said carrier, and a plurality of sets of fold linesin said carrier, each of said sets cooperating with =an associated cutto define a strip at an associated top corner of said carrier which isfolded inwardly about said fold lines to provide a high strengthsubstantially L-shaped retaining flange which has a first leg portionextending transverse to and supported by said top wall and a second legportion extending transverse to and supported by an associated sidewall, and each of said L-shaped flanges retaining its configuration andholding an adjoining container within said carrier under substantiallyall handling conditions including the forceful urging thereagainst of anadjoining container during carrying of said carrier as well as thegrasping and pulling of a terminal end portion of said top wall to movesaid carrier.

2. In combination: a plurality of containers and a tubular carrier forstoring and carrying said containers, said carrier having, a top wall, apair of side walls fastened to opposite side edges of said top wall, abottom wall fastened between the bottom edges of said side walls, aplurality of corner cuts in said carrier each being arranged adjacent anassociated top corner and each having a first cut portion provided insaid top wall and a second cut portion in an associated side wall, and aplurality of sets of fold lines in said carrier, each of said setscooperating with an associated cut to define a strip at an associatedtop corner of said carrier which is folded inwardly about said foldlines to provide a high strength substantially L-shaped retaining flangewhich has a first leg portion extending transverse to and supported bysaid top wall and a second leg portion extending transverse to andsupported by an associated side wall, each of said sets of fold linescomprising a first fold line in said top Wall extending outwardly fromthe terminal end of said first cut portion to the near end of said topwall, a second fold line in an associated side wall extending outwardlyfrom the terminal end of said second cut portion to the near end of saidassociated side wall, and a third fold line extending from the point ofjunction of said cut portions outwardly to the near end of said carrier,said third fold line defining the bight of said L-shaped retainingflange, each of said containers having an annular projection extendingoutwardly from its upper end ortion and said second leg portion of eachL-shaped flange extends beneath an annular projection of an associatedcontainer and helps maintain the configuration of said L-shaped flangeas well as engaging said associated container beneath said annularprojection, and each of said L-shaped flanges retaining itsconfiguration and holding an adjoining container within said carrierunder substantially all handling conditions including the forcefulurging thereagainst of an adjoining container during carrying of saidcarrier as well as the grasping and pulling of a terminal end portion ofsaid top wall to move said carrier.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which each of said cutsdefines one edge of an associated opening in said carrier which isadapted to receive a part of an upper end portion of an associatedcontainer therethrough.

4. In combination: a plurality of containers and a tubular carrier forstoring and carrying said containers, said carrier having, a top wall, apair of side walls fastened to opposite side edges of said top wall, abottom wall fastened between the bottom edges of said side walls, aplurality of corner cuts in said carrier each being arranged adjacent anassociated top corner and each having a first cut portion provided insaid top wall and a second cut portion in an associated side wall, and aplurality of sets of fold lines in said carrier, each of said setscooperating with an associated cut to define a strip at an as sociatedtop corner of said carrier which is folded inwardly about said foldlines to provide a high strength substantially L-shaped retaining flangewhich has a first leg portion extending transverse to and supported bysaid top wall and a second leg portion extending transverse to andsupported by an associated side wall, each of said sets of fold linescomprising a first fold line in said top wall extending outwardly fromthe terminal end of said first cut portion to the near end of said topwall, a second fold line in an associated side Wall extending outwardlyfrom the terminal end of said second cut portion to the near end of saidassociated side wall, and a third fold line extening from the point ofjunction of said out portions outwardly to the near end of said carrier,said third fold line defining the bight of said L-shaped retainingflange, each of said containers being in the form of a bottle having aneck and a crown type closure provided with a skirt portion having alower edge which defines an annular projection extending outwardly fromsaid neck, said second leg portion of each L-shaped flange extendsbeneath an annular projection of an associated bottle and helps maintainthe configuration of said L-shaped flange as well as engaging saidassociated bottle beneath said annular projection, and each of saidL-shaped flanges retaining its configuration and holding an adjoiningbottle within said carrier under substantially all handling conditionsincluding the forceful urging thereagainst of an adjoining bottle duringcarrying of said carrier as well as the grasping and pulling of aterminal end portion of said top wall to move said carrier.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which each second cutportion of each cut has an offset portion which is oifset inwardly fromsaid near end of its associated side wall and the remainder of eachsecond cut portion is arranged substantially parallel to said near endof said side wall whereby the inner end edge of said second leg portionextends beneath said skirt and more snugly against an associated bottleneck.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said third fold linecomprises a cut-score line defined by a plurality of spaced apart slitsarranged in aligned end-toend relation with a scored portion alignedbetween each pair of immediately adjacent slits, said cut-score lineenabling easier folding of said leg portions thereabout so that saidincluded angle therebetween faces outwardly.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said third fold linecomprises a cut-score line defined by a plurality of spaced apart slitsarranged in aligned end-to-end relation with a scored portion alignedbetween each pair of immediately adjacent slits, said cut-score lineenabling easier folding of said leg portions thereabout so that theincluded angle therebetween faces outwardly.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 7 in which said fold lines ineach set are arranged in substantially parallel relation.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said carrier furthercomprises a pair of openings in its top wall enabling easy grasping andcarrying thereof and at least one tear strip in one of its wallsenabling said carrier to be severed from around said bottles for easyaccess to said bottles.

10. A blank suitably cut and scored and adapted to be assembled todefine a resulting tubular carrier for storing and carrying a pluralityof containers, said blank comprising, a substantially centrally arrangedwall defining a top wall for said resulting carrier, a pair of sidewalls fastened to opposite side edges of said top wall, an extensionflap extending from each side wall, said extension flaps being adaptedto be folded in a common plane and fastened together to define a bottomwall for said resulting carrier, a plurality of cuts in said blank eachbeing arranged to lie adjacent an associated top corner of saidresulting carrier and each having a first cut portion provided in saidtop wall and a second cut portion in an associated side wall, each ofsaid cuts defining one edge of an associated opening provided in saidresulting carrier which is adapted to receive a part of an upper endportion of an associated container theerthrough, and a plurality of setsof fold lines in said blank, each of said sets cooperating with anassociated cut to define a strip at an associated top corner of saidresulting carrier which is folded inwardly in said resulting carrierabout said fold lines to provide a high strength substantially L-shapedretaining flange which has a first leg portion extending transverse toand supported by said top wall and a second leg portion extendingtransverse to and supported by an associated side wall, each of saidsets of fold lines comprising a first fold line in said top wallextending outwardly from the terminal end of said first cut portion tothe near end of said top wall, a second fold line in an associated sidewall extending outwardly from the terminal end of said second cutportion to the near end of said associated side wall, and a third foldline extending from the point of junction of said out portions outwardlyto the near end of said blank, said third fold line defining the bightof said L-shaped retaining flange and said third fold line comprising acutscore line defined by a plurality of spaced apart slits arranged inaligned end-to-end relation with a scored portion aligned between eachpair of immediately adjacent slits and each cut-score line enableseasier folding of its associated leg portions thereabout so that saidincluded angle therebetween faces outwardly, and each of said L-shapedflanges retaining its configuration and holding an adjoining containerwithin said resulting carrier under substantially all handlingconditions including the forceful urging thereagainst of an adjoiningcontainer during carrying of said resulting carrier as well as thegrasping and pulling of a terminal end portion of said top wall to movesaid resulting carrier.

11. A blank suitably cut and scored and adapted to be assembled todefine a resulting tubular carrier for storing and carrying a pluralityof containers, said blank comprising, a substantially centrally arrangedwall defining a top wall for said resulting carrier, a pair of sidewalls fastened to opposite side edges of said top wall, an extensionflap extending from each side Wall, said extension flaps being adaptedto be folded in a common plane and fastened together to define a bottomwall for said resulting carrier, a plurality of cuts in said blank eachbeing arranged to lie adjacent an associated top corner of saidresulting carrier and each having a first cut portion provided in saidtop wall and a second cut portion in an associated side wall, eachsecond cut portion having an offset portion which is offset inwardlyfrom said near end of its associated side wall and the remainder of eachsecond cut portion is arranged substantially parallel to said near endof said side wall so that in said resulting carrier the inner end edgeof said second leg portion is adapted to extend beneath an annularprojection provided in an associated one of said containers to hold saidassociated one container more securely within said resulting carrier,and a plurality of sets of fold lines in said blank, each of said setscooperating with an associated cut to define a strip at an associatedtop corner of said resulting carrier which is folded inwardly in saidresulting carrier about said fold lines to provide a high strengthsubstantially L-shaped retaining flange which has a first leg portionextending transverse to and supported by said top Wall and a second legportion extending transverse to and supported by an associated sidewall, each of said sets of fold lines comprising a first fold line insaid top wall extending outwardly from the terminal end of said firstcut portion to the near end of said top wall, a second fold line in anassociated side wall extending outwardly from the terminal end of saidsecond cut portion to the near end of said associated side wall, and athird fold line extending from the point of junction of said cutportions out wardly to the near end of said blank, said third fold linedefining the bight of said L-shaped retaining flange, and each of saidL-shaped flanges retaining its configuration and holding an adjoiningcontainer within said resulting carrier under substantially all handlingconditions including the forceful urging thereagainst of an adjoiningcontainer during carrying of said resulting carrier as Well as thegrasping and pulling of a terminal end portion of said top wall to movesaid resulting carrier.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,111,223 11/1963 Jacobi 206653,257,066 6/ 1966 Williams. 3,278,075 10/1966 Weiss 229- WILLIAM T.DIXSON, ]R., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 220-108; 22940

